Kitchen backsplash cost in Chicago, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $360 – $1,750
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $59
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #6
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Chicago, IL usually costs $360 to $1,750 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $12 to $59 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $170 more. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $35.90 an hour in the Chicago area, 34% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Chicago, IL, standard level
$780 to $1,350
About $26 to $45 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $400 | $720 |
| Labor | $380 | $620 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $780 | $1,350 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Chicago, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $560 | $970 | 53% |
| Labor | $200 | $500 | $800 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $360 | $1,050 | $1,750 | 100% |
What is behind the Chicago number
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $35.90 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Chicago is 1.34 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chicago is at 107.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $560 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.6: $0 to $0.
What local crews earn in Chicago
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Chicago the blend is 1.34.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $35.90 an hour, 34% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.90 and $48.52 an hour. About 550 work in the metro. That is 1.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $38.68 an hour, 33% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.26 and $54.79 an hour. About 14,220 work in the metro. That is 31.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $160 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $150. That is a swing of roughly 14.2% to 14.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has 4,513,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 3rd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.90 | $35.90 | $48.52 | $26.77 | 1.34 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.26 | $38.68 | $54.79 | $29.12 | 1.33 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.34 | |||||
How Chicago compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $820 to $1,050 across Chicago and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ILthis page | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | |
| Niles, MI55 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −23% |
| Kenosha, WI55 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −9% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −15% |
| Rockford, IL75 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −11% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −14% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $340 – $1,650 | $1,000 | −6% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −16% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chicago ranks #6 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chicago is 6% above the Illinois figure.
Elsewhere in Illinois
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −11% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −11% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | −12% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −11% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | −11% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chicago against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −10% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −19% |
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $1,000 | −6% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −21% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Chicago bid
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
What nearby projects cost in Chicago
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chicago wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+30%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $21,000 – $35,800 | +14% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,950 – $17,300 | +22% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,100 – $11,500 | +18% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,850 – $29,100 | +25% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,300 – $3,550 | +30% |
Cost by quality level and size in Chicago
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chicago. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$360 to $920
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$780 to $1,350
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,200 to $1,750
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $300 – $770 | $650 – $1,100 | $1,000 – $1,450 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $360 – $920 | $780 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,750 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $600 – $1,550 | $1,300 – $2,250 | $2,000 – $2,950 |
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Kitchen backsplash in Chicago: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Chicago?
For 30 sq ft, expect $360 to $1,750 in the Chicago area. A standard-spec job lands at $780 to $1,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Chicago?
About $12 to $59 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Chicago or Niles?
Niles is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 23% less than Chicago ($1,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chicago?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $500 out of $1,050. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Chicago?
$360 to $1,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Chicago?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Chicago area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chicago expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Illinois?
Chicago is 6% above the Illinois statewide estimate ($1,000 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Chicago?
The BLS median is $35.90 an hour in the Chicago area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.90 to $48.52.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Chicago?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $360 to $920 and premium work $1,200 to $1,750. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Chicago
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.